Fibromyalgia - Natural Medicine for treatment of symptoms

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition, often accompanied by depression and fatigue, in which a person feels pain in the muscles and tissues surrounding the joints. Nine in 10 fibromyalgia patients are female. While the cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, researchers have found pain-processing abnormalities in the spines and brain stems of some people with fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia research suggests that the condition is a diffuse problem of sensory volume control in which patients' thresholds are altered not just to pain, but to other stimuli such as heat, noise, and strong odors. Indeed, fibromyalgia frequently occurs with other syndromes that are also associated with hypersensitivity, such as irritable bowel syndrome, and TMG syndrome. Depression, stress, and poor sleeping habits aggravate fibromyalgia. You may also consider reading about chronic fatigue syndrome. For more research information, see fibromyalgia.

Natural treatment options for Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome characterized by widespread pain, troubled sleep, disturbed mood, and fatigue. Several analgesic strategies have been evaluated but the results are moderate and inconsistent.

Exercise more. Regular walks and stretching exercises can help ease the chronic, depressing pain of fibromyalgia. Women who exercise also have fewer fibroids.
Eat more cold water fish and more vegetables
Acetyl l carnitine was given to fibromyalgia patients at the University of Verona in Italy. The dosage was 3 capsules daily containing 500 mg acetyl l carnitine. The number of positive tender points declined significantly and equally in the acetylcarnitine and placebo groups until the 6th week of treatment. At the 10th week pain remained unchanged in the placebo group but continued to decline in the acetyl l carnitine group. Those taking the supplements were less depressed and had less musculoskeletal pain.
SAM-e an antidepressant that lifts mood within hours may help some individuals, use half or less of a 200 mg SAMe tablet.
CoQ10 combined with Ginkgo may help. Limit Co Q10 dose to 50 mg or less, and ginkgo to 40 mg or 60 mg.
Ribose sugar may be helpful.

D Ribose for fibromyalgia
The use of D-Ribose in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: a pilot study.
 J Altern Complement Med. 2006 Nov;12(9):857-62. Teitelbaum JE, Johnson C, St Cyr J. Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers, Dallas, TX, USA.
Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are debilitating syndromes that are often associated with impaired cellular energy metabolism. As D-ribose has been shown to increase cellular energy synthesis in heart and skeletal muscle, this open-label uncontrolled pilot study was done to evaluate if D-ribose could improve symptoms in fibromyalgia and/or chronic fatigue syndrome patients. Forty-one patients with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia and/or CFS were given D-ribose, a naturally occurring pentose carbohydrate, at a dose of 5 grams three times a day for a total of 280 g.  D-ribose supplements improved all five visual analog scale categories: energy; sleep; mental clarity; pain intensity; and well-being, as well as an improvement in patients' global assessment. Approximately 66% of patients experienced significant improvement while on D-ribose.

Fibromyalgia and yoga
Simple movement such as yoga can help provide relief for ibromyalgia. A wonderful form of yoga to try for fibromyalgia is restorative yoga or yin yoga. For more information, see yoga.

MSM supplement for fibromyalgia
Natural fibromyalgia treatment  or alternative treatment for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are becoming popular. We get emails requesting info on MSM supplement for Fibromyalgia.

Q. Hi, I read somewhere on the internet that MSM supplement helps provide relief for Fibromyalgia symptoms. Is this true?
   A. We have not seen human research with MSM supplement and fibromyalgia. But, it may be worthwhile to try a MSM supplement to see if it helps your fibromyalgia symptoms.

Natural FibromylagiaTreatment with Food Elimination
Food allergies. In one study, researchers reviewed medical charts of 17 fibromyalgia patients who agreed to eliminate common foods from their diet such as corn, wheat, dairy, citrus, soy and nuts. After 2 weeks without eating any of the potential food allergens, nearly half of the patients reported "significant reduction of pain," and most reported a reduction in other fibromyalgia symptoms such as headache, fatigue, bloating, and breathing difficulties. Two patients had an increase in symptoms. After the food elimination phase of the study, the patients were then instructed to reintroduce a particular food every 2 or 3 days and monitor their reaction to the food. Some of the reactions to foods were pain, headache, and gastrointestinal distress. The most common problem-causing foods or ingredients for the patients in this study were corn, wheat, dairy, citrus and sugar.

Medicine for fibromyalgia  
Exercise is more effective in easing fibromyalgia symptoms than medication. Malic acid for fibromyalgia.  Tricyclic and SSRI antidepressants. Ultram (tramadol) for pain.

Fibromyalgia diagnosis
Musculoskeletal aches at 3 or more sites for 3 or more months. Severe pain in 5 out of 11 tender point sites (occiput, low cervical, trapezius, suprasinatus, second rib, lateral epicondyle, gluteal, greater trochanter, knee) plus at least 3 out of 10 associated symptoms (fatigue, sleep disturbance, affective disorders, irritable bladder or bowel, chronic headache, perception of swelling, numbness, pain modulated by activity, weather or stress, esophageal dismobility). Laboratory tests are usually normal.

Fibromylagia prescription medication
There are currently no medications specifically approved for fibromyalgia, a sometimes debilitating disorder with symptoms that can include intense pain, fatigue, stiffness and depression. Lyrica has been tested for fibromyalgia.

Pregabalin for fibromyalgia
The anticonvulsant pregabalin provides pain relief in about half of patients with fibromyalgia. In fibromyalgia, pain transmission pathways at the dorsal horn of the spinal cord are sensitized, similar to what is observed in neuropathic pain syndromes. Pregabalin is a drug that tamps down the activity of those dorsal horn neurons. Pregabalin apparently crosses the blood brain barrier better than gabapentin.

Fibromyalgia questions
Q. I have fibromyalgia and just read about the dopamine connection ( Dr David Dryland ) I do not like to take prescription meds so almost everything I take is a supplement or herb (except allergies were so bad I take Zyrtec 10 mg daily). So I looked up Dopamine, found the precursor L-dopa and looked up natural forms and found mucuna, I now take 200 mg of 5-HTP for migraines and sleep. From what I have read I am wondering if I can take mucuna and 5-HTP together for fibromyalgia?
   A. Caution is advised when mixing potent herbs and nutrients. It is best to learn how each herb or nutrient works by itself, and if combining, lower dosages should be used for each.

Q. I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and in doing a little research online discovered 5HTP and I thought it may help.
   A. 5-HTP is worth a try for those with fibromyalgia who also have low mood but we have not seen any research regarding the role of 5 HTP and fibromyalgia treatment.

My wife was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and began taking Sam E at very low doses. She felt remarkably better in a few weeks, but began to experience stomach pain. She had taken her doses on an empty stomach as recommended. Other than taking the Sam E after meals, can you recommend anything else that might ease her gastrointestinal side effects?
    We can't give specific treatment advice but sometimes taking less of the SAM-e supplement may work just as well with fewer side effects.

I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue with all the misery that goes with them. Vitalaxin sounds like it might offer some relief. Several message board acquaintances have had good success with it. I've even ordered a bottle and am awaiting it's arrival. However, I found some disturbing and confusing information when I did a google search on Relaxin the hormone in Vitalaxin that is supposed to help the pain. Now I'm worried about whether or not to take it when it arrives. I'm not a doctor and I just don't understand what the research is actually saying. It's in science-speak. I know you cannot diagnose or give me any guarantee of product safety. However, can you possibly give me a brief explanation of what the research is indicating? Several articles came up if you do a google search using the words "relaxin cancer".
    Porcine Relaxin 20 mcg, Trypsin Inhibitor 20 mcg, Bovine Colostrum are the ingredients mentioned for the product Vitalaxin. We have not seen human trials with this nutritional supplement.

I have spent all day reading your wonderful and informative site and thank you for enlightning me in many ways. I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (15 years) and am in bed most of the day. I have almost no energy and don't sleep well due to nightmares, unless I take Nytol XS caps which seems to eliminate them. I had breast cancer about 13 years ago and have been fine since then (mastectomy). I am wondering if you have any knowledge on low dose naltrexone - doses of 1.5 mg to max of 4.5 mg/daily - for fibromyalgia and all of its pain. I did not notice anything on your site, but I may not have overlooked it. It seems many patients (on other sites) have favorable comments on it. I realize the regular doses of naltrexone is used for drug addicts in their withdrawl efforts, but that is doses of 100 mg. I take no drugs other than cumadin (5mg to 7.5 mg) for a gene problem (Factor 4 I think -hereditary) and have told I will be on coumadin for life. I just want to make sure nothing I take will cause the recurrance of cancer or affect my required blood thinner. My Mom died of a heart attack. She was on heparin but I don't think she took it properly. I was kind of young to monitor her properly. My Dad died of cancer. So basically I am probably screwed anyway. I just don't want to check out to early if I can help myself! I have a lot more reading to do on your site, and just signed up for your newsletter, but I thought I would send this email anyway for your thoughts on LDN - low dose naltrexone. Thank you for your valued opinion.